All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Fabulous weather + tons of stuff to do = awesome holiday weekend.

The weather is looking pretty fantastic for this 4th of July weekend. Now all you need is a plan to get out and enjoy it. If you don't have one yet, after the jump you'll find a long list
of stuff we found promising.

If we missed anything good, don't keep it to yourself -- add it to the list.

And have a great weekend!

1st Friday
Fourth of July weekend kicks off tonight with 1st Friday in Albany. It should be a great night to wander around and check out the art in galleries and businesses all over the city. Here's the full listing. Afterward there's the Capital Swing Dance at the Elks Club on South Allen( $15, $10 for students and seniors),after-parties at Marketplace Gallery and The University Club, and Red Squares 2nd Annual Music Festival kicks off with Nate Da Great and Trumastr. $5.

Group ride
You can start 1st Friday with a group bike ride. Cyclists are meeting up at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Washington Park tonight at 6.

Fourth of July Festivals
The Fabulous 4th Festival on The Empire Plaza officially gets going at 3 on Sunday. And nothing says happy birthday America, like headliners Herman's Hermits singing about Henry the 8th! They'll be food, games, craft vendors and of course, fireworks. The display is the best in the area. Looking for a good viewing spot? Check here.

Saratoga's All-Amarican Celebration is a two day festival (Saturday and Sunday) that includes a parade, tours of the North Broadway mansions, a classic car show, and fireworks in Congress Park.

Ohhhh. Ahhhhh
Looking for the fireworks? Here they are.

Citizenship Ceremony at the Saratoga Battlefield
The views, hiking and history at the Saratoga National Historic Parkmake it a good trip any day, but on July 4th there's a citizenship ceremony at 10 AM with readings of the Declaration of Independence.

Baseball
The Tri-City Valley Cats are at home this weekend with fireworks after the games tonight and tomorrow. Games start at 7.

Comedy
The Improv Club Comedy has a show tonight at 8 at Caffe Lena in Saratoga.

Mop and Bucket's weekly improve show Underground at Proctor's is tonight at 8.

Art
Daytrip to Stockbridge, MA to check out the Rockwell and the Movies exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The exhibit is filled with Rockwell's depictions of movie stars from the 40's through the 60's. It's there through October, but if you go on Saturday there's also a festival of art and baseball.

Theater
It's a Stephen Sondheim weekend. Sweeney Todd continues this weekend at Barrington Stage and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." is on the mainstage at Williamstown Theater Festival.

If you're checking out Wiliamstown on a Friday, and you can get there a few hours early, the festival is hosting readings of some of the best new plays in the country read by some of the actors from the festival. Every Friday at 3 at the Paresky Center at Williamstown College. $5 suggested donation.

Music

Friday
+Red Square's Beat*Shot Music Festival kicks off tonight at 6. It's a two night celebration of music, fashion and art with a crazy huge list of performers including Deep Children, Mirk and the New Familiars, DJ Trumastr and more. $5
+The Tang Museum's Upbeat on the Roof series continues tonight with The Brian Patneaude Quartet.
+Erin Harkes and Ten Year Vamp are at the Bayou in Albany
+Black Mountain Symphony is at Putnam Den with Consider the Source 10pm.

Saturday
+The Beat*Shot Music Festival Continues at Red Square. 6PM. $5
+Pearl-Palooza starts at at noon on Saturday with Rusted Root, We Are Scientists and Locksley and others. Free.
+If you're nostalgic for the mid 80's, head for SPAC on Saturday night for Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. Don't forget to mousse first.
+Sirsy is at Putnam Den with Lunic and Love for the Massesy
+Slaughterhouse Chorus is at Savannah's with Skadee and Smittix

BSO at Tanglewood
Broadway Diva Idina Menzel joins the Boston Pops at Tanglewood.

Free outdoor movies
Ballston Spa's free movies in the park series continues tonight at dusk with "Monster vs. Aliens."

Drive-in
Catch a double feature at The Malta or The Hollywood

Rides
Take a kid to Hoffman's Playland. Yes, there are some rides for big people too.

Get wet
Pools, beaches and sprinklers in the capital region are open. Bring a beach towel and don't forget your sunscreen.

Road trip
Spend 12 hours here, here or here. Or take a shopping trip to Northampton or Woodstock

Ice cream and patios
In case you need them, here are the ice cream tour and outdoor dining maps.